What is coronary artery disease?

Coronary artery disease, or heart disease, is a heart problem that happens when fatty deposits called plaque (say "plak") build up inside coronary arteries of your heart. Those are the blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to your heart muscle. This process of plaque buildup is called hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis.

Plaque buildup may reduce blood flow to the heart muscle. Like any muscle, the heart needs blood to work well. Poor blood flow can cause angina symptoms, such as chest pain or pressure. If the plaque breaks apart, it can cause a heart attack.

The symptoms of coronary artery disease are angina (say "ANN-juh-nuh" or "ann-JY-nuh") and shortness of breath. Symptoms can happen when the heart is working hard and does not get enough oxygen, such as during exercise. Some people don't have any symptoms.

People feel angina symptoms in different ways. Symptoms include chest pain or pressure, or a strange feeling in the chest. Some people feel pain, pressure, or a strange feeling in the back, neck, jaw, or upper belly, or in one or both shoulders or arms. Other symptoms of angina include nausea or vomiting, lightheadedness or sudden weakness, and a fast or irregular heartbeat.

Angina can be stable or unstable. Stable angina means that you can usually predict when your symptoms will happen. Unstable angina means that your symptoms have changed from your typical pattern of stable angina. It may be a heart attack.

Your doctor will do a physical exam and ask questions about your symptoms, personal health history, and family medical history.

During the physical exam, your doctor will check many things. These include checking your blood pressure and listening to your heart and lungs.

You will likely have tests to check how well your heart is working and check blood flow to your heart muscle. Examples of tests include an electrocardiogram, an echocardiogram, stress tests, a cardiac perfusion scan, and a CT angiogram.

Coronary artery disease is treated with healthy lifestyle changes and medicine. Sometimes a procedure or surgery is done.

Treatment focuses on lowering your risk for heart attack and stroke and managing your symptoms. It can slow the disease and improve the quality and length of your life.

• Lifestyle changes include being active, not smoking, eating heart-healthy foods, staying at a healthy weight, and managing other health problems. A cardiac rehab program can help you make these changes.
• Medicines can help you lower cholesterol and high blood pressure, manage angina, and lower your risk of having a blood clot.
• Procedures that improve blood flow to the heart include angioplasty and bypass surgery. These might be done to relieve angina. Or they might be done to treat a heart attack.

There are many things you can do to feel better, prevent problems, and stay healthy longer.

You can lower your risk for heart attack and stroke by making lifestyle changes and taking medicine. A heart-healthy lifestyle can also improve the quality and length of your life.

Take medicine properly.

Take your medicine exactly as directed. You may take several medicines.

Have a heart-healthy lifestyle.

Eat healthy foods, be active, stay at a healthy weight, and don't smoke.

Manage angina symptoms.

If you have angina, pay attention to your symptoms and know when to call a doctor or get emergency help.

Manage and prevent other health problems.

Manage diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Get vaccinated against COVID-19, the flu, and pneumonia. Get help for depression. Get help if you think you may have a problem with alcohol or drug use.

Take other steps to stay healthy.

For example, manage stress and limit alcohol.